Device for forming and supplying gum sticks to a wrapping machine



Spt. 22, I953 Filed Dec. 21, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet l A? g A95 INYVENTOR A96 Lawn/1c: MSC/MPPfE ,BY 9 ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1953 V L. w. SCHCPPEE 2,652,788

, DEVICE FOR FORMING AND SUPPLYING GUM STICKS TO A WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 34 BY A 146 4 ATTORIiYS Sept. 22, 1953 L. w. SCHOPPEE 2,652,738

. DEVICE FOR FORMING AND SUPPLYING GUM STICKS TO A WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1949 7 Sheet'sSheet a mVENTbR ZAWA'HVGL' M Sal/01w:

A'ITORNEYS Sept. 22, 1953 L. W. SCHOPPEE 2,652,788

DEVICE FOR FORMING AND SUPPLYING GUM STICKS TO A WRAPPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 21, 1949 -i%.\ O IO O- OZ O INVENTOR jaw/rue: MJC/IOPPKE ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1953 w. SCHOPPEE 2,652,788

. DEVICE FOR FORMING AND SUPPLYING v GUM STICKS TO A WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR La WEE/Nels MCHOPP B *ffu ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1953 w. SCHOPPEE 2,652,788

DEVICE FOR FORMING AND SUPPLYING GUM STICKS TO A WRAPPING MACHINE- Filed Dec. 21, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR .ZAw/Pn/zr MSCHOPP VTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1953 L. w. SCHOPPEE 2,552,788

DEVICE FOR FORMING AND SUPPLYING GUM STICKS TO A WRAPPING MACHINE.

Filed Dec. 21, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Sept. 22, 1953 DEVICE FOR FORMING AND SUPPLYING GUM STICKS TO A WRAPPING MACHINE Lawrence W. Schoppee, Springfield, Mass., as-

signor to Package Machinery Company, East Longmeadow, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 21, 1949, Serial No. 134,215

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for forming gum sticks and supplying them to a wrapping machine. The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character which will advance a slab of gum material, having a width corresponding to the desired length of the gum stick and of a length to provide a plurality of sticks of desired width, sidewise through a device which scores the slab transversly to define the gum sticks and subsequently 2 pusher fingers generally indicated at which are carried by spaced arms 6. As shown in Fig. 2 the arms are at their outermost position and as they are advanced, by means later described, the lowermost gum slab is engaged by shoulders I formed on the fingers 5 and advanced by the shoulders between upper and lower scoring rolls 8 and 9 to a position above the bridge member advances the so-scored slab through a breaking V mechanism which separates the slab along the scorelines into a plurality of gum sticks.

A'further object is to provide a device of the above character which will collect the gum sticks, as they come from the breaking mechanism, into a stack, hold the stacked gum sticks in readiness for automatic delivery to the gum magazine of a wrapping machinewhen the latter needs replenishing, and which upon such delivery will automatically prepare another stack of gum sticks to be held in readiness for the next call from the wrapping machine.

Other and further objects will be'made apparent in the following specificationand claims. In the-accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention: Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of'the machine parts being brokenaway; Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on lines Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is .a sectional view substantially, on line 4-.-4 of Fig. 1; a;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showingthe breaking ro1ls,-parts being broken away to show the guide plate and collector bar beyond the rolls; v r 1 Fig. 6 is a sectional View substantially on line 6--6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view substantially on line i of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view substantially on' line 99 of Fig. 8, showing the gum stick collecting and discharge mechanism; and a Fig. 10 is a detail view of the overload release switch for the collecting drive.

"Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine c'ornprises two side frames I joined together by a central crank case 2 which supports a hopper 3 adapted to receive a stack of elongated gum slabs 4. The stack of slabs rests upon a pluralityyot Ill. Upon rearward movement of the-fingers-i the scored slab is left upon the bridge member which is grooved as at H to receive the fingers. Reverse movement of the slab is prevented by gravity actuated detentfingers l2 pivoted at I3 to the adjacent side of the hopper 3. a a

Upon the next advancing movement of the fingers, to carrya second slab between the scoring rolls, the previously scored slab, left resting upon the bridge, is engaged by the forward ends of the pusher fingers 5 and carried through upper and lower rotating breaker rolls l4 and [5 which separate the slab along the score lines into separate gum sticks which are deposited by the pusher fingers upon a collector platform generally indicated at l6.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the scoring rols 8 and 9 comprise a plurality of spaced scoring disks l1 held between pairs of supporting flanges l8 of less diameter than the scoring disks. It will be understood that the upper and lower scoring rolls are spaced vertically apart a suiticient distance to form deep scores on opposite sides ofthe slabs d but without severing them. The ends of the scoring rolls are each provided with a scoring disk I! which scores the end portions or selvage of thegum slab so that the gum slabs may be trimmed to exact length before they a pass onto the bridge. Associated with the lower scoring disks (Figs. 3 and 4) are stripper blades l9 which remove theselv'age from eachend of the gum slabas the'latter passes from thescoring rolls. These-detached selvage portions pass through chutes 29 into a box, not shown. 1

As best shown in Fig. ,5,"the surfaces of the upper and lower, breaking rolls are formed as a series of matching frusto'conic'al surfaces 2| and 22 respec'tively,separated fromeach other the thickness of the gum material; As shown in Fig. 5; 'the'conical surfaces are each provided with a central groove to' permit passageof-the pusher fingers 5 as the gum slabs are-carried through the rolls by the fingers. As-will be apparent in Fig. 5,1 the high and low portions of adjacent conical surfacesengage the gum slab on opposite sidesof the score lines with the result that the opposed conical surfaces engaging the portions of the slab between the score lines turn such portions about a longitudinal axis thereof and into parallel planes which are inclined to the plane of the slab, thereby breaking said portions apart into individual gum sticks along said score lines. The individual gum sticks are advanced by the fingers through openings 23 in a vertical guide plate 24 and onto the collector platform 16 which, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with inclined surfaces 25 upon which the separate sticks are deposited.

As best shown in Figs. 9 and 2, three spaced pairs of fingers 2B are carried by parallel chains 29. The ends of fingers 28 extend into grooves 30 in the platform, and as the fingers sweep along the platform from right to left as viewed in Fig. 9 the fingers collect and stack the gum sticks at the forward end of the platform and deposit them on an elevator 3| which at that time is in its upper position as shown in dotted lines in the latter figure. The elevator 3i then lowers the stack of gum sticks to the full line position of Fig. 9 where the operation is halted until an electric eye unit generally indicated at 32 positioned at the upper end of the gum stick magazine 33 of the wrapping machine calls for additional gum sticks and initiates the next cycle of operation of the gum breaker as later more fully described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, power is supplied to the various mechanisms of the gum breaker by a constantly operating motor 34 which drives, through a belt 35 and reduction unit 36, a shaft 33 carrying sprockets 39 which drive a dual chain 40. Chain 49 passes over idler sprockets 4| around sprockets t2 carried by a shaft 43 (Fig. 6), and thence around guide sprockets 34 back to the driving sprockets 39. Shaft 43 carries a gear 45 (Figs. 1 and 2) which, through an intermediate gear 46, drives a gear 41 mounted on a stub shaft 48. Connected to gear 41 by a hub 49 is a gear 56 which meshes (Fig. 3) with gears 5| and 52 secured respectively to shafts 53 and 54 of the lower scoring and breaking rolls. Gears. 5| and 52 respectively mesh with gears 55 and 56 secured to respective shafts 57 and 53 of the upper scoring and breaking rolls. The scoring and breaking rolls are thus constantly driven.

The ends of shafts 53 and 54 rotate in ball bearing assemblies, Figs. 4 and 5, supported in split bearing blocks 59 mounted on the side frame members the halves being held together and the blocks as a whole'being secured to the frame by screws 60. The bearing assemblies comprise ball bearing units as indicated at 6| which are housed in cup-like cylindrical members 62 provided with caps 63 secured to the members 62 by screws 64. The members 62 are clamped between the halves of the block 59 by the screws 60. The ends of upper shafts 51 and 58 rotate in similar ball bearing assemblies clamped in upper bearing blocks 65 having split ends 66 held in place by screws 61. The ball bearing units 68 of the upper rolls are housed in cylindrical members 69 which differ from the member 62 in that the openings in which the bearing units 68 fit are eccentric and the caps 1| are provided with handles 12 so that when screws 61 are loosened the eccentric members 69 may be rotated in the .blocks 65 to adjust the spacing between the upper and lower rolls. The members 69 are clamped in adjusted position by tightening the screws 61.

For convenience in cleaning, repair and similar purposes the upper blocks 65. are preferably mounted to be swung upwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to give access to the upper and lower rolls. For this purpose the blocks 65 are pivotally carried at the ends of a pair of spaced arms 13, which are pivoted intermediate their ends, as at 14, to the side frame of the machine. The outer ends of arms 13 are connected to counterbalancing springs 15, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, and the arms are maintained in parallelism by gear segments 16 secured one to each arm and meshing with gear 11 secured to across shaft 18. The upper blocks are releasably secured in operative position on the lower blocks 59 by screws 19 provided with operating heads .86, and having their lower ends threaded in the lower blocks.

As shown in Fig. 6, shaft 43 is adapted to be coupledat its inner end to an aligned shaft 3| by means of a one revolution clutch mechanism generally indicated at 62, which is actuated by the electric eye 32, previously mentioned, to thereby transmit power from shaft 43 to shaft 8| for one revolution of the latter.

As shown in Fig. 7, clutch 82 comprises a driving ratchet 83, secured to the shaft 33, and a disk 84 secured to the adjacent end of shaft 8| and carrying a pawl 85 pivoted to the disk at 86. The pawl 65 is urged into driven engagement with ratchet 83 by a spring 81 but is normally held out of engagement therewith by a spring 88 connected to one arm 89 of a bell crank, the other arm 96 of which engages the pawl to hold the latter out of engagement with the ratchet. Arm 89 is also connected to a solenoid 9|. The circuit through the solenoid 9| is adapted to be closed by the action of electric eye 32, as later described, to release the pawl 85 and thereby couple shaft 8| to the constantly driven shaft 53. The shaft 8| carries a cam 92 which is engaged by a cam roll 93 secured to one arm 94 of a pivoted bell crank, the other arm 96 of which carries an actuator 9'5 which engages and opens a normally closed switch 98 in the electric eye circuit after about 20 of rotation of cam 92 with the result that the circuit of solenoid 9| is reopened. Arm 96 is thereby swung back into the path of pawl 85 to be engaged thereby upon completion of one revolution of the disk. A spring actuated pawl detent 85 prevents reverse rotation ofdisk 84. Spring 99 maintains the roll 93 in engagement with cam 92'.

Shaft 8| carries an elliptical gear we, Figs. 6 and 2, which meshes with a second elliptical gear |6| freely mounted on a transverse shaft 162, from which pusher arms 6 are driven. Gear |6| is normally connected to shaft I62 by a conventional over-load release clutch generally indicated at I63. This clutch comprises a member I04 fixed to the gear Hli and carrying an annular member 165. A bell crank 166 pivoted to a hub I31 which is secured to shaft I62 has one of its arms provided with a roll I08 normally held in a recess m9 (Fig. 7) formed on the inner periphery of the annular member |65 under the action of a spring H6 connected between the other arm II of the bell crank and member Hi4. As will be obvious, an overload on shaft |92 will cause roll |68to ride out of recess I66 to interrupt the driving connection between gear NH and shaft N32. The arm of bell crank I66 carries a roll I I2 which, when the clutch is released due to an overload, engages an annular ring I I2 having a rearwardly extending arm pivoted by parallel links H3 to a bracket H4. One of the pivot pins 5 of one of the links H3 carries a member H6 (Fig. 7) which actuates a switch Hi to open the circuit of the motor when ring H2 is moved acsavss axially by roll I I2. A spring I I6 normally maintains switch II1 closed.

Each end of shaft I02 carries a crank II8 connected by adjustable links II9 to the arms 6 which as previously described support and operate the pusher fingers 5. The lower ends of arms 6 are pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft I20. In order to secure proper alignment of the fingers with the grooves and openings through which they oscillate the arms 6, as shown in Fig. 1, are made adjustable longitudinally on shaft I20. As shown in the latter figure, the lower ends of arms 6 are formed with hubs I2I mounted on bearings I22 which are slidable on shaft I20, and are held between the ends of a tubular spacing member I23 and the inner ends of collar members I24. The outer ends of collars I24 are threaded in split hubs I25 secured by bolts I26 to the side frame. By adjusting the position of the collars I24 in the hubs I25 the position of bearings I22 and the arms 6 on shaft I02 may be adjusted, the bearings being clamped in adjusted position by tightening bolts I21 at the split ends of the hubs I25. The arms 6 are braced by cross braces I28 connected at their lower ends to spacer I23 and at their upper ends to the arms 6. 7

As shown in Figs. 8-and 9, the elevator 3I is raised and lowered by a cam I39 secured to a shaft I3I which carries a bevel gear I32 meshingwith a bevel gear I33 secured to a shaft I34. Shaft I34 carries a gear I35 meshing with a gear I36 secured to shaft 8|. Cam shaft I3I is thus driven whenshaft BI is coupled to constantly rotating shaft 43 by clutch 82 as previously described. Cam I30 is engaged by a cam roller I31 carried at the end of one arm I38 of abell crank pivoted on a stud I39, the other arm I40 of the bell crank being connected by a link II to an arm I42 of a rock shaft I43. One member' I44'ofa parallel linkage is secured to an end of rock shaft I43, the other end of member I46 being pivoted at I to the elevator support I46. Thes'ecoridmemb'er -'I4'I'.'.'of the parallel linkage is pivoted at I48 to support I46, the other end being secured to a pivot shaft I89.

Still referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the collector chains 29 which carry the collector fingers 28 travel around sprockets I50 fixed to shafts I5I, the upper and lower runs of the chains traveling insuitable guides I52.- One of the shafts I5I carries a drivesprocket I53 connected by a sprocket chain I54 toa sprocket I55 rotatably mounted on a shaft I56 and normally. connected thereto by an overload release clutch I51 similar to that previously described and including a bell crank I58 carrying aroll I59 normally held by a spring I60 in a recess I6I (Fig. 10) in a ring member I62 secured to thesprocket I55. In the event that roll I59 is forced out of recess I6I by an overload on the conveyor chains the opposite end of bell crank I58 engages one end of a lever I63, pivoted intermediate its ends at I64, the other end of which actuates a switch I65 to open the motor circuit.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 9, shaft I56 carries abevel gear I66 meshing with a bevel gear I61 ffixedon a'shaft' I68. Shaft I68 is intermittently drivenfrom shaft I34 previously described,- through a so-called wobble gearing of the general type described in prior Patent. 2,210,734.

'As-here employed the wobble gearing comprises a disk I69 eccentrically fixed to constantly driven shaft I34-and carrying a stud I1il iipon'which is fixed the wobbleugear I'II by.meanstofapin I12 passing through gear "I and disk I69. Shaft.

an electric lamp I8! positioned at one side of the gum stick magazine 33 and a photo-electric cell. I82 positioned, on the opposite side. The lamp'projects a beam of light through aligned openings I83 in the walls of the magazine, which in the absence of gum sticks in the magazine at the level of the beam falls on the photoelectric cell and causes the latter to actuate a, solenoid indicated at 569 in Fig. 9 throughv a conventional photo-electric relay, not shown. A link I85 connects the armature of the solenoid to one arm of a bell crank I36which is fixed to a rock shaft I81 to which is secured an arm I68 which forms one member of a parallel linkage, the other member of which comprises an arm I89 secured to a rock shaft I99. Pivotally connected to the free ends of arms I88 and I89 is a bar I9I carrying at its forward end a plate I92. Upon actuation of the solenoid I84 the bar I9I is moved forward by arm I88 to bring plate I92 into engagement with the stack of, gum sticks resting on elevator 3|, and transfer the stack from the elevator tothe magazine 33,

The other arm of bell crank I86 carries an adjustable stop member and actuator I93 which engages and closes a normally open switch I94 in the circuit of solenoid 9| thereby actuating the one revolution clutch 82, as previously described, to drive the several mechanisms through one cycle of operation.

The solenoid I84 is deenergized toward the end of the cycle by the opening of switch 98 in the circuit of the electric eye. The transfer bar I9I is then free to return to the, position of Fig' 9 under the weight of the solenoid armature and the various linkage members. To assure the re-- turn of bar I9I and the opening of switch I96, rock shaft I98 carries an arm I95 from the free end of which extends a pin I96, which upon forward movement of the transfer bar is moved to the dotted line position indicated at A in Fig.9. In the latter position pin I96 is just short of engagament with a boss I91 fixed to a lever I 98 pivoted at one end on shaft I98. The free end of lever I 98 is connected by a link I99 to one armof a bell crank 209, the other arm of which carries a roll 20I held in engagement, by a spring 202,-with a cam 203 secured on the cam shaft I 3 I. Cam 203 is formed to swing lever I98 downwardly to cause boss I91 to engage pin I96 and positively return the transfer bar I9I and actuator I93 to their initial positions, rearward movement of the bar being limited by an adjustable stop member 284-.

Cam 203' is timed to assure return of bar I9I prior to the upward movement of elevator 3| to receive the next stack of gum sticks from the col-. lector fingers.

Preferably the cam I30 is formed to raise the elevator upwardly a slight distance after the latter has received the stack of gum sticks to press the stack against spring fingers 295 for the purpose of straightening any sticks which may have been twisted out of shape in passing through thewbreaker, rolls. Theelevator, is returned to A collar I19 retains gear I14 on stub.

1'! lower position with its load of sticks just prior to the automatic throwing out of clutch 82 upon completion of one revolution of shaft 8|.

Because of the inherent tacky character of the gum material it is customary to dust the surface: of such material with starch or'other suitable powdered material to inhibit its sticking to surfaces with which. it comes in contact in handling, and to facilitate its wrapping. Unavoidably a certain amount of this powdered material is loosened from the gum in the course of its manipulation. Scrapers 205 are preferably associated with the several scoring and breaking rolls to remove any powdered material adhering thereto. To avoid thev possibility of the accumu lation of an interfering cloud of such loosened material in the path. of the light beam which actuates the photo-electric cell I82, a constant air pressure is supplied through a pipe 291 to the housing 298 of the light source l8l, thereby providing an air blast through openings E83 which maintains a clear path for the light beam.

By the present invention a minimum of handling of the gum material is required, and from a slab form the gum sticks are quickly and accurately prepared and automatically delivered to the magazine of. a wrapping machine. Furthermore, the speed of preparation and supply of the gum sticks. is conformed to the speed of the wrapping machine without the necessity of accurately timing the gum preparatory mechanisms to the speedof the wrapping machine. The machine of the present invention is capable of preparing a quantity of gum sticks faster than the presentl available wrapping machines can wrap-them. If for an reason the wrapping machine is operated at a. slow speed the preparation of the sticksis conformed automatically to the needs of the wrapping machine.

What I claimis:

1. In a machine for forming gum sticks, from slabsof gum material, a hopper for supporting a supply ofelongated slabs, a pair of opposed scori rolls spaced from said hopper, a pair of opposed breaking rolls spaced from said scoring rolls, a bridge member positioned between said pairs of rolls, an oscillatab'le member having a plurality of fingers traveling beneath said hopper and betweenthe rolls of each of said pairs of rolls,shoulders formed intermediate the ends of said fingers to engage the lowermost slab in the hopper and advance-the so-engaged slab through the scoring rolls to a position on said bridge to be engaged by the ends of said fingers upon the next advance movement of said oscillating memberrand advanced by the ends-of said fingers through the breaking rolls-means to constantly drive said scoring and breaking rolls, and means to intermittently drive said oscillating member.

2. A. machine for preparing and delivering a stack .of'gum sticks to the supply magazine of a wrapping machine-which comprises, .meansfor forming a plurality of individualgum sticks from a slab of gum material, a hopper for supporting a supply of slabs of gum material, means to feed a slab from said hopper to and through said form'- ing: means, means for stacking theso-formed gum sticks one upon another in vertical alignment, means for driving said feeding, forming and stackingmeans, said driving means including means normally limiting said feeding and stacking means. to a single common cycle ofioperation, means to discharge the stack of gum sticks, as a unit, from the machine to the supply magazine of the Wrapping machine, means to actuate said discharge means and means re sponsive to the operation of said discharge means to release said limiting means and initiate another cycleof operation of the feeding and stack? ing means.

3. A machine for preparing and delivering a stack of gum sitcks to the supply magazine of a wrapping machine which comprises, meansfor forming a plurality of individual gum sticks from a slab of gum material, a hopper for supporting a supply of slabs of gum material, means to feed a slabfrom said hopper to and through said form ing means, means for stacking the so-formed gum sticks one upon another in vertical align-- ment, means for driving said feeding, forming and stacking means, said driving means including means normally limiting said feeding and stacking means to a single common cycle of operation, means to discharge the stack of gum sticks, as a unit, into the supply magazine of the wrapping machine, means to actuate said dis.- charge means when said magazine reaches a predetermined stage of; exhaustion, and means responsive to the operation of said discharge means to release said limiting means and initiate another cycle of operation of the feeding and-stacking means.

4. A machine for preparing and delivering a stack of gum sticks to thesupply magazine of a wrapping machine which comprises, means for scoring a slab of gum material to define a plurality of gum sticks, means to receive the scored slab, means for breaking said slab along the scores to form individual gum sticks, a hopper for supporting a supply of slabs of gummaterial, means to feed a slab from said hopper to and through said scoring means onto said receiving means and to simultaneously feed a previously scored slab from said receiving means to and through said breaking means, means for stacking the so-formedgum sticks, one upon another in vertical alignment, means for driving said feeding, scoring, breaking and stacking means, said driving means including means normally limiting said feeding and stacking means toa single common cycle of operation, means to discharge the stack of gum sticks, as a unit, from themachine to the supply magazine of the wrapping machine, means to actuate said discharge means and means responsive to the operation of said discharge means to release said limiting means and initiate another cycle of operation of the feeding and stacking means.

5. In a machine for preparing a stack of gum sticks from a slab'of gum material, means for forming a plurality of gum sticks from a slab oigum material, a hopper for supporting a supply oi slabs of gum material, means to feed a slab from said hopper to said forming means, means for stacking the so-formed gum-sticksone upon another, means for constantly operating said forming means,.means for intermittently and'alternately operatingsaid feeding and stacking. means, and means for removing the finished stack of gum sticks from the machine subsequent to each stacking. operation andpr-ior to the succeeding operation of said feeding means.

6. In amachine for preparing astack of gum sticks froma slab of gum material,. a pair of scoringrolls provided with opposed annular scoring knives, a'pair of breaking rollsprovided with a plurality of opposed frusto-conical surfaces aligned withthe spaces between the scoring rolls to engage the portions of the slab between the scores formedby the scoringrolls and turn each 9. said portion from the plane of the slab into respective planes inclined to the plane of the slab and defined by said opposed frusto-conical surfaces to simultaneously break each portion from the adjacent portion, a receiving platform formed with a plurality of inclined surfaces one of said surfaces lying substantially in the plane to which each of said gum sticks has been turned by said breaking rolls, means to feed a slab of gum material to and through said scoring and breaking rolls and deposit the so-formed gum sticks one on each of said inclined surfaces, means moving along said platform transversely of said inclined surfaces in the direction of upward inclination thereof to collect and stack the gum sticks at one end of said platform, means for rotating said scoring and breaking rolls, means for intermittently and alternately operating said feeding and stacking means, and means for removing the finished stack of gum sticks from said platform prior to the succeeding operation of said feeding means.

7. Apparatus for supplying the article hopper of wrapping machines and the like which comprises, means to prepare and assemble a predetermined quantity of articles, less than the capacity of said hopper, in a given cycle of operation, means for driving said forming and assembling means, said driving means including means normally limiting said forming and assembling means to a single cycle of operation, and means, responsive to a predetermined depletion of the supply of articles in said hopper, to transfer the so formed assembly of articles to the hopper of the wrapping machine and simultaneously initiate a cycle of operation of said forming and assembling means to form another assembly of articles for transfer by said transfer means upon the succeeding operation of the latter, the rate of preparation and assembling of said articles by said first named means in said cycle being greater than the rate of depletion of articles remaining in the hopper at the time of the initiation of said cycle of operation.

8. In a machine for severing pieces of gum from a slab having spaced parallel score lines extending from side to side thereof to form individual gum sticks; a pair of opposed rolls, means to drive said rolls in opposite directions, the peripheral surface of each roll comprising a plurality of corresponding adjacent peripheral frusto-conical surfaces, the said peripheral conical surfaces of one roll directly opposing and facing the corresponding peripheral conical surfaces of the other roll and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the slab to be severed to form slab engaging bites between said opposed frusto-conical surfaces, means to advance the slab in the direction of its score lines and between said rolls to cause the portions of the slab between the score lines to be progressively engaged between respective opposed frusto-conical surfaces of said rolls and turned thereby from the plane of the slab into respective planes inclined to the plane of the slab and defined by the opposed bite forming frusto-conical surfaces of the rolls by which said portions are engaged.

' LAWRENCE W. SCI-IOPPEE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 121,117 Mauger Nov. 21, 1871 1,158,287 Redington et a1. Oct. 26, 1915 1,451,081 Momenee Apr. 10, 1923 1,771,734 Penley July 29, 1930 2,251,172 Smith et a1. July 29, 1941 2,252,363 Carus Aug. 12, 1941 2,554,579 Lauffer May 29, 1951 

